Racing
Racing normally takes place on Sunday mornings and has been successfully formulated to suit all levels of sailing ability, age and boat type and to provide variety in the nature of type and level of competition. The participation of even more members, even on an occasional basis, would be more than welcome.
Participation in racing at Tonbridge should be regarded as a means of extending your sailing skills in a relaxed environment and so enhancing your enjoyment of the sport. It offers a challenge as well as the chance to test your skills against both dinghies of your own (or similar class) and against those other members who could well have been on your own Level 2 sailing course.
If you have been at the Lake on a Sunday morning on a regular basis you would have seen that any one race is in fact actually a number of individual battles, all in good humour (usually!!). Examples in the Group A race series are the jousting between the Albacores, in a Group B race series between the Solos, and GP 14's. In Group C we also have a Mum versus Daughter tussle for supremacy, and so it goes on!
The Racing Folder (the Club's Guide to racing) in the Clubhouse has detailed information on the range of competitions. Most of these are based on a series of races over the sailing season, with the final result being determined on a set number of races. These various series are supplemented with a number of individual events.
The Calendar below shows what races are on which date, there are usually two races on Sunday mornings, the first at 10 am and then at noon. Racing, as in all other Clubs, is decided on a handicap basis, based on the PY (Portsmouth Yardstick) number allotted to the type of dinghy being sailed. The only time this alters is for the Personal Handicap series where all competitors are issued with an adjustment ( or -) based on the Race Committee's evaluation of their previous results/experience. These are reviewed regularly to try to ensure that everyone has a reasonable chance of success.
If you want to know more then (space permitting) ask to join the Race Officer on a Sunday morning in the race box. Whoever is "on duty" can be counted on to to try to explain how the races are run and answer any questions you may have.
Events
Series Races
| Race Name | Total in Series | Races to count |
| Group A - Boats up to/including PY1114 | 14 | 8 |
| Group B - Boats PY1115 to PY1200 inclusive | 14 | 8 |
| Group C - Boats PY1201 and above | 14 | 8 |
| Handicap | 14 | 8 |
| Junior & Cadet (Cadets aged 14 or over) | 6 | 4 |
| Personal handicap | 8 | 5 |
| Novice Race & Training Cup | 4 | 3 |
| Ladies and Vets (Vets aged 45 to 59 inclusive) | 8 | 5 |
| Frostbite | 4 | 3 |
| Presidents Cup | 3 | 2 |
| Bill Mann Memorial Cup | 3 | 2 |
| Commodore's Cup | 6 | 4 |
Single Races
| Total in Series |
| Easter Egg Pursuit |
| Jubilee Pursuit |
| Foxhunter Handicap |
| Colin Welch Memorial Handicap |
| Pursuit Race |
| Spring Fling Handicap |
| Bullys Bash Handicap |
| September Splash Handicap |
